On Friday, 14 November 2025, the University of Udine – Gorizia Campus will host the symposium “Caring for Our Planet: The Role of Ecosystem Services in the Julian Alps and the Karst Area”, organized within the Interreg Italia–Slovenia E-NAT2CARE project. The event, starting at 15:00, will bring together researchers, environmental professionals, and decision-makers from both sides of the border to explore how the ecosystems that surround us sustain life and what we can do to safeguard them.
Ecosystem services — the benefits that nature provides to people — are often invisible but essential. They include the clean air we breathe, the water we drink, the forests that regulate our climate, and the landscapes that shape our cultural identity. Recognizing and valuing these services is crucial if we are to protect them for future generations.
Throughout the afternoon, participants will hear from experts who will share insights into the science and practice of ecosystem management. Alenka Žunič Kosi from the National Institute of Biology will open the discussion by exploring the link between forest biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides, showing how healthy, resilient forests are vital to our well-being. Silvia Ferrini, from the University of East Anglia and the University of Siena, will focus on the economic and social dimensions of nature’s benefits, explaining how understanding their value can help bridge the gap between people, the environment, and sustainable development.
Water — one of our most precious shared resources — will be at the heart of several talks. Elisa Tomasinsig (eFrame Srl) and Marialuisa Campani (ATERSIR) will present examples of how responsible water management can strengthen the natural systems that support it, creating a virtuous cycle between ecology and economy. Building on this theme, Luca Strazzaboschi (For Nature Srl) and Francesca Visintin (eFrame Srl) will introduce innovative ways to reward those who protect ecosystems through compensation mechanisms that recognize the true value of environmental stewardship.
The symposium is part of the broader E-NAT2CARE initiative, which works to strengthen cross-border cooperation for the conservation and restoration of Natura 2000 sites within the Julian Alps and Karst area. By fostering collaboration between Italy and Slovenia, the project promotes a shared vision for sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity protection.
Simultaneous translation between Italian and Slovenian will be provided, and a coffee break will offer an opportunity for informal exchange among participants.
Together, we can learn how to care for our planet — from the Julian Alps to the Karst. 🌍💚
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